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RYE, N.Y. -- The Town of Rye is marking the 27th anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act by making town parks more accessible.

The town recently completed work to make the Crawford Park grounds accessible to those with disabilities, including the construction of ADA-compliant public restrooms in the picnic pavilion, an accessible playground, and a sensory garden.

Plans are being drawn to improve the physical infrastructure of the interior of the Crawford Park Community Center to eliminate all of the barriers that the facilities still present to the disabled. The proposed work will install an elevator to make the second floor accessible, as well as an emergency evacuation chair to assist the disabled in cases when the elevator is inoperable. Bathrooms on both the first and second levels will be made ADA-compliant. An ADA-compliant walkway will connect the Crawford community center to parking and the grounds.

Similarly, concepts are being developed to create access for the disabled at Rye Town Park and Oakland Beach. Proposed work would remove existing gates and ramps at both the South Beach and Middle Beach entrances and replace them with ADA-compliant entrances that could accommodate mobility devices and wheelchairs. This project would make Oakland Beach one of the few accessible public beaches in Westchester County.

“The Town of Rye is committed to ensuring that people with disabilities can participate in the same programs, activities, and employment opportunities available to those without disabilities in the most integrated setting possible,” said Supervisor Gary Zuckerman.